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8/16/2010 1:59:17 PM Reviews and opinions about my book "A Hard Place". Let me begin this with saying how much I appreciate the members for their support,comments and just checking out my books and profile. The numbers to me are extremely pleasing.
Now to the gist of this post. Two and a half years ago I published my Vietnam War story, after it taking me over three years to write.Even at that I only began it after years of urging from my family and friends,especially my son (also a soldier) and my daughter (an Army Brat married to a Marine)without their prompting along with that of their mother I probably would not have written it. Even though I wrote and published it as "Thriller Novel" I had to relive a lot of ugly memories and scars from that war.Along with a bunch of fond and humorous ones. I personaly give nay damn who will,or will not,believe the story! But what I do care about is being called a "phony" and that I probably never even went to Vietnam. Well, my DD214 says I spent three tours there. The Veterans Affairs says that I am 100% Disabled because of it.I have refrained from counter attacking those few malcontent souls who felt it necessary to impune my honor. But it does not sit well with me. Hooah! It's an Army thing!!!!
Jacamo Peterson,SFC US Army (ret),Reno Nevada
My Son, also a John L Peterson has held up the five generation line of Army Service, Sgt ,19D Cavalry Scout (OPFORS) and is also now a Disabled Veteran.(also a Certified Structural and Wildland Firefighter)
My Father was also a John L Peterson MSG, 81st Inf, Pacific Theatre 1942-46
Three of my Uncles jumped into Normandy 6 Jun 1944, Two with the 101st, one with the 82nd..Two others were Merchant Marine.Â
Other Comments:
Presidential Certificate of Appreciation for Armed Forces Service, Richard M Nixon President of the United States, August 1973
Letter of Appreciation for Armed Forces Service, Robert F Froehlke Secretary of the Army, August 1973
Oregon Army National Guard Commendation Medal, Richard A Miller Major General Adj Gen. May 1979
I wrote the Vietnam War book to honor the service and sacrifice of all Vietnam Veterans, Yes that includes me! To all members of all the Armed Forces who were there, whether Volunteer or Draftee,  who served with Honor and Distinction,  this book is dedicated to you. Let us never forget our fallen and lost Brothers. Our cause was just,Our Service was Honorable.
I Have seen TOO many movies about American forces in Vietnam, portraying the soldiers as anti-war draftees who hated the military. That was not the case,over 95% of american soldiers, marines,airmen and sailors served with honor and distinction. We did NOT lose the Vietnam War, we were pulled from the field. Hooah!
Description This campaign was from 30 January to 1 April 1968. On 29 January 1968 the Allies began the Tet-lunar new year expecting the usual 36-hour peaceful holiday truce. Because of the threat of a large-scale attack and communist buildup around Khe Sanh, the cease fire order was issued in all areas over which the Allies were responsible with the exception of the I CTZ, south of the Demilitarized Zone.
Determined enemy assaults began in the northern and Central provinces before daylight on 30 January and in Saigon and the Mekong Delta regions that night. Some 84,000 VC and North Vietnamese attacked or fired upon 36 of 44 provincial capitals, 5 of 6 autonomous cities, 64 of 242 district capitals and 50 hamlets. In addition, the enemy raided a number of military installations including almost every airfield. The actual fighting lasted three days; however Saigon and Hue were under more intense and sustained attack.
The attack in Saigon began with a sapper assault against the U.S. Embassy. Other assaults were directed against the Presidential Palace, the compound of the Vietnamese Joint General Staff, and nearby Ton San Nhut air base.
At Hue, eight enemy battalions infiltrated the city and fought the three U.S. Marine Corps, three U.S. Army and eleven South Vietnamese battalions defending it. The fight to expel the enemy lasted a month. American and South Vietnamese units lost over 500 killed, while VC and North Vietnamese battle deaths may have been somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000.
Heavy fighting also occurred in two remote regions: around the Special Forces camp at Dak To in the central highlands and around the U.S. Marines Corps base at Khe Sanh. In both areas, the allies defeated attempts to dislodge them. Finally, with the arrival of more U.S. Army troops under the new XXIV Corps headquarters to reinforce the marines in the northern province, Khe Sanh was abandoned.
Tet proved a major military defeat for the communists. It had failed to spawn either an uprising or appreciable support among the South Vietnamese. On the other hand, the U.S. public became discouraged and support for the war was seriously eroded. U.S. strength in South Vietnam totaled more than 500,000 by early 1968. In addition, there were 61,000 other allied troops and 600,000 South Vietnamese.
The Tet Offensive also dealt a visibly severe setback to the pacification program, as a result of the intense fighting needed to root out VC elements that clung to fortified positions inside the towns. For example, in the densely populated delta there had been approximately 14,000 refugees in January; after Tet some 170,000 were homeless. The requirement to assist these persons seriously inhibited national recovery efforts.
